IRVING, TX – CEC Entertainment, parent company of Chuck E. Cheese's, has announced plans for a high-tech redemption game that challenges young patrons to grab virtual-reality tickets. The attraction will employ Rift head-mounted display technology from Oculus VR.

Called Virtual Ticket Blaster Experience, the game is similar to those money booths in which patrons attempt to grab as much fan-propelled cash as possible within a set amount of time. It is set to roll out in 29 locations in San Diego, Dallas and Orlando over the next several weeks.

"Kids today have unprecedented access to game consoles and tablets," said CEC president Roger Cardinale. "Our challenge is to deliver an experience not available at home, and there is no doubt virtual reality does just that. Oculus Rift technology is the next frontier in the gaming industry, and we're thrilled to be able to say it's part of the Chuck E. Cheese's lineup."

The game, which was designed by the Dallas-based Reel FX, will mark the first consumer use of the breakthrough technology. Facebook purchased Oculus VR for $2 billion in March while approximately 80,000 development kits for the virtual reality goggles have been sold to date. | SEE STORY

However, in coin-op the introduction of the game may be significant for entirely different reasons. It marks the first time a location-developed game has beat established coin-op companies to market with a new technology. According to CEC officials, the initial investment in the game was relatively modest with the purchase of 30 sets of the goggles and software development.

So far CEC has not announced whether it plans to market the game beyond its current locations.